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PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health has welcomed the King’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Batu Sapi, Sabah, which cancels the by-elections in the parliamentary constituency.
Health Director General Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry had always expressed its reluctance to hold elections, especially now with the significant increase in Covid-19 cases.
“From the beginning, we have expressed our concern about having a state election, a by-election or a general election in these times. Our recommendation was that it should not be held, if possible.
“As we learned from the Sabah election, we saw that the number of Covid-19 cases increased after its celebration.
“Therefore, it is very important that we avoid organizing another election for the time being,” he said at the ministry’s Covid-19 press conference here on Wednesday (Nov 18).
Batu Sapi’s by-election was scheduled for December 5, with the nomination set for November 23, and was triggered by the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Liew Vui Keong.
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